Combination locks



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my 2 12 l0 I2 10 5B EqZ If I M 3 W L AW 11" 5A v INVENTOR ATTORNEY July21., 1970 D. ARETOLA 3,521,411

COMBINATION LOCKS I Filed April -1, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY(EM -1,024

r ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,521,471 COMBINATION LOCKS DonatoAretola, 18 Winchester Buildings, Copperfield St., London, SE. 1,England Filed Apr. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 717,835

Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 5, 1967,

15,700/ 67 Int. Cl. E05b 37/02 US. Cl. 70-312 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The disclosure is of a combination lock for doors, switches,controls, etc. in which a plurality of combination wheels mounted on aspindle control the position of a radial key or feather, so that itassumes either an in or an out position according to whether thecombination is set or scrambled, so that the spindle is either locked orfree. The feather in the set situation, enters radial slots in thewheels and only does so when all slots coincide.

This invention relates to combination locks, and more particularly tolocks in which a spindle-like element is the operable part of the lock.The spindle may operate by rotation, for example thus withdrawing a boltor latch; or by axial movement, for example thus working astarter-switch of a motorcar; or the spindle may have differentfunctions, for example its rotation operating an ignition switch and itsaxial movement operating a starter switch. Primarily however theinvention is intended to be applied to mechanically-operating locks ofwhich an example is a motorcar door lock with a spring-urged latch, or alock for a cabinet drawer having a rotatable latch or a sliding bolt.

The invention seeks to provide a combination lock of simple, robust, andeconomic construction. It is further concerned to provide combinationlocking means which can be fitted to an existing lock or door-handlespindle (such as that of a motorcar door) with little or no modificationof the existing fittings excepts the removal of the handle. It alsoprovides for an attractive and compact arrangement in which the assemblyof combinationwheels itself forms a knob or handle. According to thedegree of elaboration, the combination is either preordained at the timeof initial assembly, or is open to selection by a later setting.

According to the invention, there is provided mounted for rotation onthe spindle a plurality of axially-bored combination wheels or dials theexposed rims of which have letters, figures, or symbols visiblydisplayed, and each such wheel has in its bore a radial notch or recess;and the spindle has a radial slot in which is radially slidable afeather or key which is so dimensioned and so located as to enter thenotches when all the notches are aligned and collectively register withthe feather; and the feather and/or the notch formation is bevelled orchamfered so that forcible rotation of one of the wheels urges thefeather into its slot thereby disengaging it from the wheels.

In one form of the invention, the feather has a pin or projection whichcan extend right through the spindle (which is of course radially boredfor this purpose) and the pin, when projecting from the spindle, engagesin a recess in a fixed bezel or mounting in which the spindle is bornewhen so engaged, the spindle is thus locked to the mounting againstmovement, and so the door is locked (or equivalent function performed).This occurs when the combination is scrambled by turning at least onewheel relative to the others, and the lock is secure until thecombination is re-set whereupon the feather, re-

entering the aligned notches, retracts from the final recess and sounlocks.

In another form, the invention is applicable more especially where thespindle is spring urged one way; for example when it operates a springlatch as is usual on car doors. In this form, the feather does not havea positivelylocking pin. The feather simply acts, when in the notches ofthe wheels, as a key preventing the assembly of wheels from rotating onthe spindle. In this case, the assembly itself as a whole is used as adoor-knob, and it can only turn the spindle (to open the door) when thefeather is notched, i.e. when the combination is set. Scrambling thecombination pushes the feather into the slot of the spindle leaving allthe wheels free to rotate, and so the door is effectively locked; it isobserved however that this is a pseudo-lock, because what has reallyhappened is that the knob has been unlocked from the spindle. The termlock is therefore used here in its general or colloquial sense of makingit impossible to open.

The invention further includes certain features which will be enlargedupon in the following description; for example, the provision of meanswhereby the owner can select and set a new combination.

The invention is exemplified in the following description with referenceto the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation, of a pseudolock for amotorcar door.

FIG. 2 is a similar view to that of FIG. 1, illustrating thepositive-locking form as a variant of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view to illustrate one way in which the featherand notches can be arranged.

FIG. 4 is a section of a modified combination wheel allowing forindividual setting;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate as scrap views, two. ways of using thecombination of FIG. 4.

FIG. 1 illustrates the invention as it applies to a pseudo-lock. Asapplied to a car door, the latch-operating square-section spindle isshown at 1. This is secured on the inside of the door, perhaps bycarrying an inside lever (not shown) or the like secured by a studscrewed into a threaded blind bore 1A. On the outer end of spindle 1 ismounted a cylindrical extension boss 2, which has a square blind bore at2A into which fits spindle 1, and a grub-screw or dowel-like pin 2Bsecures these two parts together. The boss 2 has a radiallyextended head3, and in its length an axially directed radial slot 4. In the slot 4 isradially slidable a feather 5, spring-urged outwards by two lighthelical springs SA partially housed in, and located by, blind bores inthe feather 5; the springs 5A bear on the bottom of the slot 4. Theouter edge 5B of the feather is tapered or chamfered as seen in FIG. 3;this formation may be unilateral or bilateral as illustrated. Ifunilateral the combination can be scrambled only by turning the wheelsin one sense of direction. Alternatively the feather may be ofrectangular section and the notches later described (and as illustratedin FIG. 3) have one or both flanks inclined.

The boss 2, which is in effect part of the spindle 1, is borne in afixed bezel plate 6 of which the reverse side is contoured to fit thecontour of the car door; the curved fitting surface is indicated in FIG.1 at 7. The fitting surface may have dowels, indicated at 7A (not inrealistic positions) projecting from it, to fit into holes in the doorpanel such as are normally present. It is understood, then, that theplate 6 is fixed to the door and the spindle as a whole (1 and 2) isrotatable in it.

On the cylindrical boss 2 are rotatably mounted three combination wheels8A, 8B, 8C. These may have equal external diameters, so thatcollectively they form a cylindrical shape; or they may be tapered as anassembly so that the outermost, 8A is smaller than 8C which is theinnermost. From the point of view of production, if they are all of thesame size they may, obviously, be manufactured as virtually identicalcomponents as seen in FIG. 1. Each wheel has its perimeter marked withletters, numbers or other indices, to form the combination. Such markingis preferably on slightly upstanding castellations such as areillustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 40 at 8D. Each wheel has of course, acentral axial bore, fitting on the boss 2. In each bore is a radialnotch, indicated at 9. The flanks of each notch are convergent ortapered, as seen in FIG. 3; thus, when the feather is engaged in a notch9, partial rotation of the engaged wheel 8A or 8B or 8C causes thatwheel to ride over the feather and force it inwards into the slot 4against the springs 5A. This action is the result of scrambling.Rotation of any one of 8A, 8B or 80 (so of course, all of them), havingpushed in the feather, leaves the wheels collectively free to turn onthe boss 2. Therefore, the spindle 1 cannot be turned against suchfrictional and spring resistance as it always has. Since the only way ofopening the door by turning the spindle 1, is by using the assembly ofwheels 8A, 8B, 8C, as a door-knob, it follows that the door-knob is freeto rotate, and the door therefore cannot be opened. This is what hasbeen called pseudo-locking; it is, in reality, a declutching of theassembly of wheels from the spindle.

As a matter of construction, each wheel has at its periphery anaxially-projecting rim or flange 10, of which the section is channel orhook-like (see FIG. 1). In the unique case of the outermost wheel 8A,there is inserted in the channel at 10 a resilient disc 11 whichencloses the head 3 (which retains the wheel assembly), thus renderingthe whole of the spindle assembly inaccessible. On the other hand, whenit is required to dismantle the device, the screw at 1A (and whateverfitting it secures) being removed the whole assembly of FIG. 1 can bewithdrawn from the door, leaving the plate 6 (or removing it ifrequired). At this point it is mentioned that on one side of each wheel8A, 8B, 80, there is, between the wheels 8A, 8B; 8B and 8C; and 8C andfitting 6, a roughly semicircular spring-wire retaining clip 12 of whichthe ends are located in small blind bores in the boss 2; these serve tolocate the wheels individually and also to space each wheel from itsneighbour by a small clearance, to prevent their mutually frictionallybinding one against another. When the assembly is removed from the door,then the innermost ring 12 is. removed and wheel 8C is removedfollowedby the next ring and wheel 8B and the third ring and wheel 8A. But wheel8A must be forced off, so that the disc 11, being resilient and stoppedby contact with the head 3, is displaced from the channel at 10 and thuswheel 8A is removable.

On the plate 6 or other reference basis is marked an index line orarrow. When the combination letters (or like) on all wheels, are alignedwith each other and with the mark on the plate 6, the combination isset. In that circumstance uniquely, the assembly of wheels usedcollectively as a knob, can turn the spindle 1 and thus open the door.When any one wheel is in any other relative position, the feather 5 mustbe in its inward posi tion, and the assembly of wheels is free to rotateon the spindle so the door cannot be opened from the outside. Note,however, that whatever fitting is on the inside of the door, can stillturn the spindle and open the door. This fact distinguishes this exampleof the invention from the variant of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, the plate 6 has a radial notch 6A in its bore. The boss 2 hasa hole through it at 6B.'The feather 5 has an extension from whichprojects diametrically through the hole 6B a locking pin 5C capable ofentering the notch 6A. In this case, when the lock is scrambled and thefeather 5 is in its in position, not only is the assembly of wheelsdeclutched from the spindle but the pin 5C positively locks the spindleto the fixed plate 6. Thus, the locking is positive; note that, for thesame reason the door cannot be opened from the inside. This can be adisadvantage in some cases (it may be' so regarded in the ordinary caseof a car door) but it may be an advantage in other cases; for examplepositive locking could be adopted, if the end of the spindle 1 is tohave a conventional handle.

The feather 5 can conveniently be made of a hard but fairly low-frictionsynthetic plastic. If it be arranged so that it is always operabledownwards then the springs 5A can be omitted and gravity relied upon.Or, it may be a permanent magnet and a bitt be provided in each wheel(or the Wheels may be of magnetic metal) so that the feather tendsalways to move outwards.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a wheel of which thecombination-cipher can be selected. The wheel comprises an annular outerrim 40 (with the flange 10 as before, which is a taper fit on an innerpart 41 which is axially bored to fit on boss 2, and notched, as are thewheels of FIG. 1 or 2. The rim 40 can be located at choice on the part41 so as to choose the relation between the selected combination-cipherand the notch 9. The two wheel parts may be interlocked by friction (orcementing) which is not highly favoured but may be tolerable; or byproviding their innerface with serrations as shown in FIG. 4A at 42,giving a fine adjustment of positive connection; or by providing the rim40 with a sunk grubscrew 43 ,(FIG. 48) to lock it to the part 41 inselected position. If, as intended, the construction is mainly oflight-alloy, the grubscrew will firmly imbed itself in part 43. Yetagain and as shown in FIG. 40, the inner part 41 has periphical notches44 corresponding in number to the castellations 8D and a grubscrew 43cengages one of the notches 44; the inner and outer parts are therebyinitially settable. A broken line at 9A in FIG. 4C, illustrates that onewheel, (or even two wheels out of three) may have its notch with radialflanks whilst only one wheel has the lateral flank. Then the uniquewheel determines Whether or not the feather is engaged or disengaged.

Combination locks can be inconvenient in the dark. It is proposed that(especially in the example of FIGS. 4) the outer part at least of eachwheel be made of a material impregnated or coated with a luminescentsubstance, the actual ciphers (and any index mark) being opaque andnon-luminescent so as to stand out visibly. Then, at least for manyhours after exposure to a source of light, the combination can be seen.Alternatively or as well the facets (such as at 8D) on the Wheels, maybe formed in heavy relief so as to be identifiable by feel. The normalsetting of the lock may be such that the combination has to bevertically upwards, and providing the adjustment is not of too finedimensions, the fixed index (such as a mark on the plate 6) may bedispensed with.

The foregoing description pertains entirely to rotary looking. it isobserved, however, hat the action of the feather may be to release thespindle for axial movement relative to the Wheel assembly. Thus, lockingmay be against rotation plus axial movement, or against axial movementalone. The former case is deemed to be applicable to that type ofmotorcar fitting which provides a rotary switch for ignition (imaginethe spindle 1 being the ignition switch spindle or arbor) and a pressbutton switch for the starter relay ,(imagine the spindle, adapted forsome axial movement and exposed by absence of the disc 11, being thestarter button).

It will thus be seen that the invention is open to wide variationaccording to the requirements of application, and lends itself tostandardisation in the sense that very few individual parts are requiredto be manufactured. As a further example the whole of the combinationassembly may be applied to a sliding bolt rather than to the rotatablespindle, the feather in such case being operative only against axialmovement.

The wheels may be extended, one nested within the other, in a radialdirection, and instead of their rims being used to display thecombination, their annular coaxial faces will be the display, onesurrounding the next.

The invention may be usedperhaps especially in the pseudo-locking formlike FIG. 1-for various purposes such as to prevent theunauthorised useof electric switches, or of apparatus in which a rotation is to beachieved for an operation. For example in the console of a control panelit may be required to provide some emergency or safety operative devicein the form of a knob to be twisted. The invention can be adaptedthereto, to prevent such action except by some authorised person whoknows the combination. In another example, the device is adapted to theclosure of a container; for example a drug or poison-bottle has ascrew-on cap or stopper and this cap (intended to be firmly screwed on)constitutes the equivalent of the spindle 1 of FIG. 1, the combinationassembly being mounted on it. Then, the cap can only be removed by onewho knows the combination, because otherwise the combination assembly,totally enshrouding the cap, prevents it being unscrewed by precludingaccess to it and providing the pseudo-locking effect. A securing-bolt,eg between two frames of a window, may have its head enshrouded by thecombination assembly, so that an unauthorized person cannot get at it tounscrew it, but when set, the assembly forms a bolt-head or knob forremoval of the bolt.

I claim:

1. A combination lock comprising: a spindle which, when rotated, servesto actuate an opening or switch mechanism; a plurality of combinationwheels arranged for co-axial separate rotation on one end of saidspindle and so formed that said wheels collectively constitute a knobfor the rotation of said spindle; the bore of each said wheel defining aradial notch; said spindle end having a radial slot along itslongitudinal axis; a key-like feather member disposed within said slotand adapted to engage each of said notches when they are all alignedthereby permitting rotation of said spindle as said wheels are rotated;resilient means urging said feather member out of said slot and inengagement with said notches; and bearing means providing for separaterotation of said wheels on said spindle one end whereby misalignment ofsaid notches causes said feather member to be urged completely into saidslot by the bore wall of at least one of said wheels thereby preventingrotation of said spindle as said wheels are rotated.

2. The lock according to claim 1 further comprising a fitting member onsaid spindle, said fitting member being fixed relative to said spindleand having a radially extending recess therein, said feather memberbeing provided with a radially extending pin for movement into and outof said recess thereby locking said spindle against rotation within saidfitting member when said feather member is urged completely into saidslot.

3. Lock according to claim 1 wherein one of said wheels comprises anouter rim-like part bearing a cipher for combination and an inner parthaving the bore and notch, said outer and inner parts being relativelyrotatable for initial setting and thereafter capable of beinginter-locked.

4. Lock according to claim 1 in which the outermost one of said wheelscarries a closure disc enclosing and concealing said spindle one end.

5. Lock according to claim 1 in which said bearing means comprises ringelements located between said wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,387 2/ 1894 Silvey -22659,045 10/ 1900 Amess 7025 942,553 12/ 1909 Hamilton 70149 972,17110/1910 Dupont 702l 1,560,596 11/1925 Marra 7013 2,276,733 3/1942Mayewski 7021 9 2,718,777 9/1955 Kincaid 70-305 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,06112/ 1924 Norway. 244,367 12/ 1925 Great Britain. 298,013 6/ 1954Switzerland.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R. 70-213, 326, 445

